Even with seasoned backs, BSU offense not changing

Ball State senior running back Jahwan Edwards waits on the sidelines to be called into play on Thursday during the first practice of the season for the program. Ball State has been building it's program, going to two bowl games in the past two seasons.(Photo: Corey Ohlenkamp/The Star Press, Corey Ohlenkamp/The Star Press)Buy Photo

MUNCIE – Talk to people on the periphery of Ball State's football program and a common sentiment emerges around the question of maintaining the Cardinals usually potent offense. Keep in mind, these aren't folks inside the Fisher Football Complex, but when discussing the world without quarterback Keith Wenning, one prescription comes again and again.

The running game is going to have to carry the load.

And while that sounds all well and good in theory, it's not necessarily something the Ball State staff is actually ready to put into practice.

Those inside the complex say even without the most prolific passer in program history, the tenets remain the same: hit the defense where it's not. The running game seems to have a few more pieces in place, but even with a green passer, the staff insists the pieces are there to do some damage.

"You're still going to have to throw it," Cardinals coach Pete Lembo said. "We're not going to come out in the wishbone against Colgate. We're also not going to line up and run power 50 times a game. That's just not who we are."

Lembo said any shift toward a more run-heavy approach rests on assessing all facets of the offense and even the defense, but he's no stranger to going that route when needed.

His 2001 Lehigh team ran 2.5 times for every pass, while his 2004 team's ratio was 2.2:1 with a young QB, but it should be noted both threw for at least 1,000 more yards than their rushing total. Lembo's three Ball State teams have only once had more passes than runs, and even then, not by much (though the Cardinals' Jahwan Edwards has had the best individual rushing season for a Lembo squad).

The Cardinals have gone run-heavy a few times in the past two years, notably in 2012 against Ohio, when Kelly Page added an extra running element in a rout, and Miami, when injuries left the team pounding away into a completely packed box. Last season, the coaches made a point of getting back to the run against Western Michigan. That produced an uneven performance at 3.7 yards per carry.

But that run game won't necessarily reflect what the Cardinals can deploy this season. Last year's running game tended to be a simple, effective element that complemented the prolific and precise passing game. But that doesn't mean there are not different wrinkles that can add to it.

Now a fourth-year starter, Edwards said stylistically things change slightly, as there's even more emphasis on getting those short-to-mid-range runs to keep the offense on schedule. His position coach, Justin Lustig, in fact said he didn't want his backs seeing themselves as carrying the load because it encourages bad habits.

"He's going to try to bounce runs and turn them into 50-yard runs, when all we need is 4 or 5," said Lustig, noting he wants his charges to do their job same as always. "Next thing you know, he's going to be getting tackled for loss."

The Cardinals ground game should be productive with Edwards, Horactio Banks and Teddy Williamson behind a line with more experience and starters back than a season ago. Given room, it should produce, and if defenses key in, players say the offense will throw to attack elsewhere.

"We're doing what we're doing, and we're not really going to change things this year," center Jacob Richard said, noting the offense will take what's given.

When presented with the idea it could all go on the back of the running game, Edwards said he understood why the idea would take root. He's a powerful back, a proven trampler of defenses, and has two seasoned backups. But he also drilled down to why it won't really happen.

"There's a feeling more that's just going to happen because I'm a senior guy and I've been here for a while and I've got the most experience on the offense," Edwards said. "But at the same time, we're going to do what the defense gives us."